🔗 Share this article

The initial song I was captivated by
My earliest recollection is walking into a space at preschool where they were blasting Yellow Submarine by the Fab Four. I was enthralled by the audio textures, and John Lennon yelling: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I purchased
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to choose a new record to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My teacher took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own savings was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was topping the charts at the time, and I selected it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The track I perform at karaoke
I frankly actively avoid karaoke and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d choose Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra.

The track I strangely recite all the words to
I not long ago discovered that I have memorized pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The perfect tune to play at a gathering
It relies on what stage of the evening you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an absolute banger.

The song I can not hear
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ultimate song to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that transformed me
When I was 12 and beginning to study the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was consumed by The King, Chuck Berry, the killer, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still guitar music, but it was high voltage rock ’n’roll. As soon as he placed the vinyl on the turntable, I was hooked.

The track that motivates me in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The track that makes me cry
Most music leaves me touched. Aretha Franklin, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Beatles all make me cry because of the harmony and sheer brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley gets me going without fail.

The track I’d like played at my final send-off
The King. If I’m cremated, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.